I just tried to read some back issues of the FML to figure out what was being said regarding the Oregon Ferret Shelter and Troy Lynn Eckart, as I have personally gotten 4 ferrets from them...I honestly cannot tell what the issue is, and where it is going, except I must say one thing about her comment several issues ago that "150 ferrets is way too many for one person"...well, yes, it is. Only that is a non-issue as it is not the case here. The Oregon Ferret Shelter may well be overloaded at this point, but it is not one person versus 150 ferrets. So, I am wondering why she even bothered to post that comment? I think that would qualify as a "red herring". If there are issues to discuss here, it is not that particular one. Anyway, my ferret Linus, I got him from the Oregon Ferret Shelter in the summer of 1996. He was 1 1/4 year old, a silver ferret who has gotten considerably whiter with age (he now has about 12 black hairs). Very super friendly and energetic. Wouldn't hurt a fly. He is now 7 years and 10 months old, and will be going in for surgery this coming Monday after all. I posted about my dilemma 4 months ago, whether we should do exploratory surgery with him as at the time his only issues were liver damage the vet couldn't determine the cause of. Anyway he is now showing signs of insolinoma. And while this surgery may only extend his life a year, we could have put him on meds for the same amount of time but I think a year after surgery he will feel better rather than a year of medicine controlling his symptoms. The vet thinks he is in fine form for surgery, too. So I know lots of people emailed to say leave him alone, but now that he is showing physical problems, I just feel surgery will eleviate his discomfort. He had adrenal surgery when he was 4 1/2, has shown no signs of recurrence. He's been medicated daily for IBD and hepatitis. He looks really good, considering. No heart or kidney problems. Just that pesky liver. I have arranged it so I can take care of him around the clock next week, when he comes home from surgery. No work, no kid, just Linus & I on the couch. Here's to a successful surgery to ring in the New Year! Minta & Linus, the Super Ferret [Posted in FML issue 4010]